Sometimes we feel lonely. Those of us who don’t have a spouse or a significant other may feel lonely in this world surrounded by people. Sometimes even when we are surrounded by people we can feel lonely and isolated. The feeling of loneliness can be overwhelming and can have detrimental impacts on our lives. When loved one’s pass on, or friends betray us, loneliness can take its course on us. It is an easy way for Satan to enter in and lead us down a path that seems good, but will end in disaster.

When we feel lonely, there is a feeling of emptiness in our hearts. As Christians, we can feel this way as well when we are surrounded by people who don’t think like us or don’t believe what we we believe. There is one comforting aspect of being a Christian that can get us through almost anything if we use it. It is knowing that God is always with us. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” God wasn’t just talking to the Israelites here. This is applicable to everyone who desires and has a relationship with Him. God is always with us. Even in life’s darkest times, God is still beside us. We know this because in Psalm 23:4 it says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” No matter what, God is with us. We can go through the darkest time in our lives, a breakup, a financial situation, no matter what it is, God is right there.

There is a beautiful story of a man that has a rather peculiar dream. In his dream, he was walking along the shoreline of the ocean. This shoreline, in his dream, was a timeline of his life. During the good years of his life, he noticed his footsteps and God’s footsteps right beside him. This was indicative of God being right there beside him just like God promises. However, when the rough times came in his life, the man only saw one set of footprints. The man couldn’t understand why only one set of footprints was seen during the rough times. So the man said to God, “How come during the rough times in my life, I only see one set of footprints? I thought you said you would be with me always?” Then God looked at the man, smiled, and said, “Where you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you.”

This powerful story has always stuck with me and it is another way of displaying how God is always with us. When we feel alone, when we are scared, God is right there holding out His hand, carrying us through the rough times.

The Psalmist definitely knew what it was like to be lonely. He also had a good answer to being lonely. He writes in Psalm 27:10, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” Psalm 25:16 says, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.” The author had been abandoned by everyone he knew. Everyone forsook him and he was afflicted. He had no one and nowhere to turn to, except towards God. He knew that God would be there for Him. He knew that if he turned to God, God would rescue him.  

When we feel lonely in this world, we should pray. We should pray for our hearts to be healed and pray for God’s comfort. He is the only one who can truly make us feel our worth. When this life is over, we will feel our true worth and value when we receive eternal life and get to spend eternity with Him who gives life abundantly. God is waiting for you to come to Him with your troubles, with your pain, with your loneliness. He is just waiting for you to give everything to Him. When we give everything to Him, we feel the peace and love of having a relationship with our Creator. When we do this, we will not feel as lonely and start to realize the power and relationship we have with God.